Grab-bucket.



H. P. ANDRESEN.

GRAB BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED APR.

Patented Apr. 13, 19-15.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

\illlllli H. P. ANDRESEN.

GRAB BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12, 1911.

1,134,987. Patented Apr. 13, 1915,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m i; g W

i V have scoops for UNITED STATES PATENT crunch.

HERMAN 1. ANDBESEN,

or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, assrenon .ro DAVID .r. EVANS, or

CHICAGO, rumors.

GRAB-BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Application filed April 12, 1911. Serial N0. 620,635.

and closing mechanism for positively and quickly opening and closing said scoops to discharge creased.

or take on a load; which will be properly balanced and which will be comparatively light in weight, but exceedingly strong and durable and capable of withstanding the strains to which a bucket of this character is subjected without being distorted or injured, and which will have a minimum number of moving parts and these so arranged and related that the-wear and tear on the bucket will be reduced to a minimum and the life thereof greatly in- A further object of my invention is to rove the construction and arrangement of the various parts of buckets of the class which constitute the subject matter of Patents No. 870,812 issued' to me the 12th day of November, 1907, and No. 921,056 issued to me the 11th day of May, 1909.

My invention will be more re'adily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

' Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a grab bucket embodying my invention, parts of this view being broken away: to more clearly show the structure of the bucket; Fig. 2 is a top plan view' of the bucket shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of the bucket frame; Fig.4 is a sectional view on line 4-4: of Fig. 3 taken in the di-' ,rection of the arrow;

tional .view looking downward and taken on theline.55 of Fig. 4.

. The grab bucket of my invention is of the class generally used in'the handling of heavy, bulky materials, such as coal, ore, sand, gravel and the like, and for this work it is obvious that a strong, durable, light are provided with positive opening and closing mechanlsm.

digging and carrying mate'- rial, and which will have powerful opening and Fig. 5 is a sec-- The particular bucket shown in the draw- I ings is designed to carry a load generally of from one-half to fifteen tons of material, but of course it is to be understood that,

while the size and capacity of the bucket is not essential to' my invention, it is one of my ob ects to make possible the construction of acomparatively light weight bucket of large dimensions and capable of handling heavy loads withoutbecoming damaged or distorted by the strains incidental to'such heavy loads.

Preferably my invention consists in bucket having a frame and twodigging and carrying scoops pivoted to the upper portion of said frame, together with mechanism supported by the frame for positively closing the scoops together for carrying a load, and mechanism for opening Ejhe scoops and spreading them-widely apar.

v The particular bucket shown in the draw- :ings is adapted to the numerous two=line equipments or but it is to be understood that my hoisting rigs throughout the countr inventlonis equally adaptable to other hoistin'g-rigs, such for instance as shown in my Patent No. 870,812 above mentioned; Referring-now to Fig. 1, it will be "seen that the two scoops A are of substantially triangular shape andare pivotally mounted by means :of shafts A at opposite corners of .the frame B, this arrangement permitting the buckets to be widelyopened or spread apart, as shown in dotted lines, for the purpose of discharging the load or when the bucket is dropped upon a pile of material preparatory to taking a load. The lower portions of the scoops are made in such form that when their cutting edges A are brought together they form a single receptacle wherein the material is retained.

digging and j i The bucket is suspended and the operation thereof is controlled by means of cables G and D. The two strands D constitute what Iterm the closing cables. These two. strands act together in the same manner as a single strand so far as the closing ofthebucket is concerned, but the two cables cable, but spaced apart makes it possible "to better prevent the bucket from turnlng while it is suspended' Each of the scoop members A is provided with a laterally pro-' ecting armor emtensioni- Enear its pivo.tal, point, these being connected by chains 'o'rjf to the end of the opening cableC] the purpose of opening the bucket,- Thus it will be seen that when the closing-'1" links E for I cables D are slacked relatively to the open-= ing cable C the scoops will be sw'ung'om their, pivots and spread wvidel-y apartyas-i shown in dotted lines.-

I prefer to make as much, as possible of.

the entire bucket of sheet steel, angles and channels suitably riveted-together forthe reason that these parts 'may be -cut i and, F urthermo're, this class of materialis not only exceed ngly formed from stock material.

strong, butit--is comparativelylightnin Weight. As

' upper ends of the scoops, which are, formed scoops.

a end plates of the-"frame ,and' is' fastened in the lower ends thereof,c0tter pins l by the meeting upper ends of AH and. inner g scoops! are. pivoted at the corners" of the 1 frame B. This frame isprefe'rably substan-I tially wedge-shaped so that itwill take upt fof' theg anglesi' and .9. ,The strains occaminimum amount of room betweenlthe twonism hereinafter described. Referring now more particularly to' Figs. 3. 4, and 5, the frame has two outer or ends by: atop Plate 2. the ends 2"of which turned ends for the purpos'e'of additionall strengthening the corners o'f' th'efrarne; and the bearings for the pivo'tshafts Af ofythe scoops. .JA shaft 4=extends between'the' two provided for retaining" the shaft in position;

A longfcvlinder orfchairi drum '5 revolves of'thi's drum'and rigidlv attached theretois-a larger onfthisshaftand midway of the ends operating or cable drum-6, these drums com stitu'ting' part of the-closing mechanism.

For the purpose of stiifening and strengtheningthe end plates I rivet angle irons 7 on'the inner'fa'ces' thereof adjacent the edge ofthe plates,'thus providing the plates with instanding flanges or ribs. The angles, as

will be seen, start immediately adjacent the plates 3 and follow down along the edges of the end plates to a point somewhat above the chain drum 5 from whence they turn ac oss the plate and up along the opposite .sde. thus assuming a U-shape.

ate'the end plates, and parallel thereto,

are also provided with ngles, 9. g'lhe purposeof these intermediate'-v" pla tes.gis to brace the frame against twisting-or: distorting forces when the connecting they take previously (mentioned, --.thei -f the end plates} of respective- It carries the scoop closing. mechaff g "'i-.=..bucket are plates 1, which are triangular in shape j These-plates are connected at their upperia'g end plates 1.=

being;

prefer to. secure the ends llntermedimeans? provide two other but shorter plates 8. These intermediate plates are of substantially-the shape of the Uf-shaped angles 7 just described, as shown in Fig. 4:, and they similar U-shaped bucket-isinoperation, and: in addition to providssbearings' for the journals on the centralizingf'cablesheaves 10 in] the upper portion'of the frameg .These plates rise to the under faeefof thetop plate 2, and each carriesv a transverse-channel beam 11, the upper flan'ges of which; are riveted to the top plate 2,-as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and These beams'not only serve as means for the intermediate plates to the top plate and' add' strength 'to, the frame, but

closing cables' 'D f'on account-ofthe bends therein'fat'the-sheaves lt), (see Fig. 1).:

In;-order tocompletethe rigidity of the frame 'and r'ender 1t, absolutely.non'-distortable,-I plac a broadlplateilii .on each side of- 'The length "of these plates. is substantiallyequal. 'tothat of thevwidth of the frarne and, they ja're':fir1rnly..secured by.

the. frame;-

rivets or otherwise to the insta'nding flanges sioned by the closing chains 18 in-closing the 4 resisted by these plates acting asbeams." ,Thefplates also act in conjunction .withthe top plate 211:0 resist torsional strain and-in consequence. greatlyyrigidify v the structure. I rivet L-shaped'pieces or brackets I 6 -'uponthe lowerqinnerlifaces of the ifl lheloriger armsof these i..- shaped jpiece's "extend' downwardly to I the lower ends fjof theplates;-

and serve to "ti en the same andf-toiincrease-the size of the'jjournalfbearings forythe. drum shaft. -Thef short. arms 1b of. these Lfshaped pieces ,prejeee horizontally inward. immediately bea low the'flanges of the angles 7, :and provide shelves' or s'l'ip'portsitowhich are secured the BTlfiSvOf a bridgebeam' orbottom member 17 of this bridge member bothto the short arm 16. and the inwardly-turned 'fianges of the angles .7;

{This bridge member preferably consists of a flat strap-"of steeLPand has a centrally upstanding-loop or. U-shaped bend disposed between. the two' intermediate plates 8 for the purpose of clearing-the cable drum and allowing it to properly operate. This bridge is also-riveted to flanges of-the angles 9'which are attached to the intermediate plates 8 and its vertical portions 17 are riveted to the respective plates 8 (Figs. 3, 4, and 5). The function of this bridge member is to form 'a'" firm and strong mounting for the dead-ends mechanism, as hereinafter described.

, In order to accommodate the two" lifting the lateral thrust exerted by the of the chainsof the closingand closing strands 'or cables D with the 'required number of turns, Imake the periphery of the operating or cable drum 6 broad enough so that the two strands may be wound around it in parallel, and I provide flanges 6' on this drum to prevent the displacement of the cables. The closing cables, as before mentioned, pass downward through a suitable opening in the top plate and over the grooved centralizing sheaves 10, thence, down around the cable drum to which their ends "are-secured.- By this arrangement the pulling of'the cable rotates the drum and the smaller chain drums are 'rotatable therewith.

for closing them by-means of two sets of codirectionally wound closing chains'lS. These- This motion is communicated to the scoops chains are substantially "of thesame length,

i andtw-o of-them'are wound .upon each end of the chain drum 5.. One chain on each side of said cable drum is connected to the same scoop so that each seoop'has twoclosing chains igs. 1 and 2): The inner ends of the chains are" securedi--to.eye-lug s [The $5 chains extend fromK-the' bver' sheaves 19; provided therefonon the jlnner sides I of the scoops;- From these sheaves the chains 7 pass back to the frame where they are deade- {headed{or-jconnectedto eye-lugs and- 20" 1-whicl 1 are'carriedupon and firmly secured to the-bridge member 17. This arrangement ives"a two .toone-operating ratio between hedr mandth sc c sfand in-consequence cry powerful: and positive scoop closing chanisin -is provided, I The"closing-'c hains seoopfgare arranged. symmetrically hejchain "drum 5jon' opposite 'sidesof a balanced non racking application of closmg force; I

provide for this balanced arrangement of v chains for both scoops-by placing the chains fforjon'e scoop-adjacentto theiouter ends of p of said frameg-in conibination'with yp 4 the drum 5 and the chains ffor the other scoop adjacent to the cable drum. The cor-' responding chain anchoring-lugs on the bridge-beam 17 and'on the chaindrum 6 for the several chains respectively are arranged' to facilitate free helical winding of the chains on the drum. To provide for this the lugs for eachchain are staggered somewhat,-

' thus providing a suitable space-longitudinally on the drum 6 for thewinding' of each *chain'; It will be seen that this construction employs the fewest possible number of moving parts. hence the wear and tear, which is" due usuallyto grit and dirt finding its way into the bearings, is accordlngly reduced ,to a

minimum and the life ofthebucket considerably increased. The. eye-lugsupon which the closing chains are dead-headed preferablv comprise small blocks of metal provided with an eye at one end to which the chains may be attached, and with a slot in which the bridge 17 fits. By suitably riveting as clearly shown in Figs. 3' and .4. The

$1. In a gas-bucket; frame taci r 7 these blocks to the bridge member (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) there is no chance of their becoming I detached.

It will be noted that the pull of the chains is substantially edgewise of the bridge member 17 hence this bridge will stand enormous strains without bending or becoming distorted. For the purpose of preventi'n ex cessive slack of the closing cable, an the displacement thereof from the drum, I pro-- vide a guard. This guard consists of two fiat straps or hands 21' bent to conform tothe periphery of the drum and having their upper ends 21 bolted to the side plates 15,

lower ends of these guard straps are connected together by a loop 23 of strap metal.

,U-sh'aped pieces of metal 22 riveted tothe' guard stem are also rovided for lateral'movement of the guard. I As previously mentioned, the upper ends of the scoop-members are mounted upon the preventing projecting ends ofthe pivot shafts A, one

of these shafts being provided for each scoop and having its'yournal bearings 25 .in the'upper cornersfof the end plates'l. These shafts extend the entire width of the frame. The-short. axles or shafts I2 and 27 of the sheaves 10 and 26 respectively are journaled in the channel beams-11 and the said sheaves revolve thereon. In order to revent the cables from becoming displaced from these sheaves I provide an extra pair of small idler sheaves 26 similar to but vsmaller than, the

cable sheaves 10and are mounted on'shortshafts 27 journ'aled in the channel beams; 11.: As many modifications 10f myiii'vent'ion' will appear to' oneski'lled'in the m1 at not the drawingsdesire to'belimit'e'd to'thestruct'ureshown in- 'Icl'aim:

members :pivotedzaponthe upp r portion operating mechani'sni' comprisin a chain drum rota'tablymounted in the Fewer per: i tion of said frame-,a bridge member insaid frame disposed above "said drum, and op erating chain 'loo'ps' "extending from said scoops, -co-directionally wound upon said drum and each having an end anchored to said bridge.

'2. In a grab bucket-a frame and shafts j journaled in the upperportion thereof, in combination with scoopsinounted upon said shafts and adapted to be closed together to' form a receptacle for carrying material, a rotatable drummounted in the lower portion of said frame "between said scoops, sheaves mounted in said scoops, a bridge member in said frame above and parallel to said drum, closing chains secured to said drum passing from said drum around said sheaves and connected to said bridge, and

means for rotating saiddruni to windthe 1803 chains co-directionally thereon for closing said scoops.

3. In a grab bucket a frame and scoops pivotally mounted at the upper end thereof on opposite sides and adapted to be brought together for digging and carrying material, a rotatable chain drum positioned in the lower portion of said frame and between said scoops, a bridge member forming a part of said frame and disposed above and adjacent to said drum, operating chains secured to said drum extending therefrom to said scoops and back to said'bridge, said chains being connected to said bridge at points substantially corresponding to their position on the drum, and a cable drum for rotating said chain drum.

4. In a grabbucket a pair of scoops adapted to-be closed together for carrying material, in combination with a frame p0 sitioned between said scoops and upon which said scoopsarepivotally mounted, said frame comprising end plates and intermediate plates arranged parallel to one another, a bridge member firmly secured to the lower portion of said plates, at top plate connect- 7 ing the upper ends of said plates, and broad plates extending along the sides of said frame and firmly secured to said end and intermediate plates for preventing distortion of said frame.

5. In a grab bucket a pair of scoops adapted to be closedtogether for carrying material, in combination with a frame positioned between said scoops and upon which said scoops; are pivotally mounted, said frame. comprising two end plates and two intermediate plates arranged parallel, a

beam firmly secured to and held by the lower,

ends of said plates, a top plate connecting the upper ends of said end and intermediate plates, broad strain plates extending along the side of said frame and firmly secured to said end and intermediate plates for preventing distortion of said frame, and paral lelstrengthening beams fastened to the upper portion of said intermediate plates and to said top plate.

, 6. Inv a' grab bucket a pair of scoops adapted to be closed together for carrying material, in combination with a frame positioned between said scoops and upon which said scoops are pivotally mounted,

' said frame comprising two end plates and two intermediate plates arranged in parallel and spaced apart, a beam bar firmly secured to the lower portions of said plates, a

' broad top plate connecting the upper ends of said end plates and intermediate plates, broad plates extending along the side of said frame and firmly secured to said-end I and intermediate plates forpreventing distortion of said frame, parallel strengthening beams fastened to the upper portion of said intermediate plates and to said top gthrust of said sheaves.

means? extending along each side of said frame and fastened to said angles for preventing dis tortion of said frame.

8. In a grab bucket a frame comprising two end plates, 2. top plate and a bridge plate extending, between and bracing the lower portions of said end plates, intermediate plates parallel to said end plates, extending between and connected to said bridge plate and top plate, stiffening angles on said opposing faces of said end and intermediate plates and adjacent the edges thereof, a broad side plate extending along each side of said frame and fastened to said anglesfor bracing said frame against dis-- tortion, scoops pivoted at the upper portion of said frame, cable-operated, scoop-closing -mechanism mounted in the lower portion of said frame below said bridge,-cable centralizing sheaves in said intermediate plates at the upper portion thereof, and channel beams transverse of said intermediate plates and secured to said top plate, said channel beams being-adapted to take the lateral 9. In a grab bucket, a substantially triangular frame, comprising a top plate, triangular end plates depending from the ends of saidtoprplate, intermediate shorter plates depending from the central portion of said top plate, a bridge member extending between and fastened to said end plates above the lower ends thereof, said bridge member having a central U-shaped portion upstanding between and fastened to the lower por- 'tions of said intermediate plates, a long drum journaled in the lower ends. of said end plates, and a larger cable drum centrally positioned thereon and entering the lJl-shaped portion of said bridge.

10. In a grab bucket, a substantially triangular frame, comprising a top plate, triangular end plates depending from the ends of said top plate, shorter triangular plates depending from said top plate intermediate said end plates, a bridge member extending between and secured to said end plates above the lower ends thereof, said bridge member having a central U-shaped portion upstanding between and secured to the lower ends ofsaid intermediate plates, a chain drum journaled in said end plates below said bridge, a larger cable drum centrally positioned thereon and entering saidU-shaped portion of said bridge, oppositely swinging scoop members pivoted at the upper portions of said frame and having scoop por tions adapted to be closed together belowv said frame to form a receptacle for carrying material, a pair of chains extending from said drum to each of said scoops having their ends returned and anchored to said bridge member. for closing said scoops upon the rotation of said drum, and means for opening said scoops. I i

11. In a grab bucket a frame comprising a top plate, end plates and a bottom member all firmly fastened together, in combination with instanding flanges on the inner faces I when said drum is rotated, and lateral exof said end plates adjacent the edges thereof, broad side plates riveted to said flanges for preventing distortion of the frame, ca-

ble sheaves in the upper central portion of said frame, frame strengthening beams j pending cables and to be rotated thereby,

scoops pivoted at the upper portions of said frame, chains extending from said drum to said scoops for closing said scoops togetherv tensions on said scoops to which a bucket opening cable is connected for opening said scoops.

12. In a grab bucket a frame comprising atop plate, end plates and a bottom bridge member secured together, in combination with instanding ,an gles'riveted on the inner faces of said end plates adjacent the edges thereof, and broad side plates riveted to said flanges for preventing distortion of the frame, cable sheaves in the upper central portion of said frame, frame stiffeningv beams wherein said sheaves are journaled, andadapted to take lateral thrust exerted by suspending cables on said sheaves, vertical plates riveted to said beams and said bottom member, extensions dependingfrom the lower ends of said end plates, a drum rotatably mounted in and disposed between said extensions, a central cable drum carried on said drum and adapted to receive bucket suspending cables and to be rotated Q thereby, scoops pivoted at the upper portions of saidframe, chain loops extending from said drum to said scoops for closing said scoops together when said drum is rotated, lugs on said bottom member of said frame to which the ends of said chains are connected, and lateral extensions on said scoops to which a bucket-opening cable is connected for opening said scoops.

13. In a grab bucket the combination of a frame member comprising end plates stifl"- ened with angles and connected .by'side plates and" a topplate, a drum rotatably I Y mounted in the frame, a strap extending from 'end plate to end plate over the drum -andscoops swingably mounted on the frame in combination with operating chains conneeted to said drum extending to respective scoops and back to dead-end connections on said crossmember over the drum.

14. Ina grab bucket the combination of a 7 frame comprising end plates held in spaced relation by side and top plates, an o erating drum rotatablymounted in the mine, a a

strap member extending between the end plates and arranged adjacent said drum,

scoopsswingably mounted on the frame and chains for closing the scoops connected to the drum extending around sheaves on respective. scoops and back to spaced dead-end connections upon said strap.

15.- ,In a grab bucket the combination of a rigid, frame member, scoops swingably mounted on said frame, said frame com- M prising end plates connected by side and top plates, an operating drum rotatably mounted in the lower part of the frame, a

strap member extending from end to end of the frame over said drum, braces extend-,

ing between the strap member, and the said upper plate connecting the e ad members,

and closingchains connected to said drum upon said cross strap.

In testimony whereof, I have set my hand,

presthis 23d day of February, 1911, in the ence of two subscribing witnesses.

witnessesz. I,

EDGAR F. BEAUB IEN f i JOHN R. LEFEvRE. I

.100 extending around sheaves on respective 3 J scoops and back] to dead-end connections HERMANIKEANDRESEN; v I 

